Transporting carrier for cartons and the like



Dec. 8, 1953 R. E. LEE ET AL TRANSPORTING CARRIER FOR CARTONS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS s IOBEPTELEE 2 706 ,4. EE/Vflf/V R. E. LEE ET AL TRANSPORTING CARRIER FOR CARTONS AND THE LIKE Dec. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1950 I N VEN TORS POBEPT 5 L55 572/8 14. BE/VDE/V m ne m h r p li ted and 3 from ,place' to p1ace,and.more part v. .lates to carrier's for containers orca s ar lld'the farequitl heavygand it v person ,to handl and Ca y thern using eniy his free hands and .arnis, and they are cold, "w h .i v y b mfsii'tm i E ilee?!- Further it is impossible for aperson toearry in considerable likelihood thattthje m line the can-s v.cf i f o' p event one or both pf the scans from siippinglfromfhis grasp en route and failing, which results inndamag eio theecntainer, .and waste of "onconta rnination to the contents,

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 1 THE LIK sen ims. (cues-45 i This inventionrelatesftocarriers .wherehy-eonansn ri k ifla mnu ally transported. v

:On ty e of c n r QQn'tainer to whih t rt of-this v ani is applicable and w i h i w ipiti il rlv sen i inepee e .tional form of ice cream .eontainer employed in Wholesale or bulk deliveriesni or instance fivegallons, to s'odaIfountains, restaurants and the l e for t ;dis ene e an i iieel mia I cardboard or fibreebo rd in cylindrical form and has alremovable fiat opand afcl os'edfiat hottomhaving ia downyvardly extending edge flange.

These a n s when fill d w th 1119 te avv kward tor a his m ar t a ne-9 tw i ash ifi l ice-cream sans at a time and there is aitvays erson carryand the trouble and inconvenience and loss of 'e i'e in den t r rievin h new iie 9 p in e i biectro hi iz niwnis-" vide'l a vcarrier device for ice ereani and ans use c tai r whe eb been m e f nea jthe arrie i blqe, l r an 'i'a ma 'e'a i' an nvelfi y tr n r th leans from place to place without any danger .of neican or clans beooming released ;in adjvertently from t the carrier and failing' therefro n and from which carrier the person can easily release the can organs whenevenhe desires to A oth object Pfthi inreniiq is rmy q a i e e m ma in whi h :5 l le in iew and st 'rdy fand simplein eonstruction and con- "venient to handle and woman:

Anothe object of this invention-is-to-provide .an ice cream ean parrier of lthe' 'type described w i h is a tabl ii ee e efitt e f, ff-

fereritheightsf V A further object of this mvention is to pro Wideiii a' 'arfiei of thetypexdescrihed, wherein at least two such containers maybe carried -and g'ripped thereby 'and wherein-thereis a simple {and sturdy gripping device adjustable to and from positive grippi :2 A en a em w h h containers, the g ripping ineans pf said gripping device being se1f adjustab1e to variations withiniin its, in the heights of' said containersand said gripping device heinginstantaneously-reie ed fron theeansor containersfby the operation of atriggerorifinger ieverl 'T i Other objects of this invention will be inpart obvious and'in partlpointed out hereinafter In accordance with this invention the barrier includes apiatform or'base adapted to support one or more cans or other containers placed. thereon, a ii-iting st'andard; preferably adjustable as to height, seured to and extending --upwardly from the platform and agrippingdevice which is slidably' mounted on the standard'and is nor nallysufiicientlyelevated 'on the standard toperrnit the 'top-or-tops -of a can or other container placed on the platform to be positioned {beneath the gripping elementor elementsof the grippingdev ioe'ij" The gripping device is equipped was a'one-way clamping-mechanism so associated-With thelifting standard that when emesauto matically clarnped to and held fixed on the standard in nan gripping positionfl A trigger fingeror 1ever isassociated with the elainping devic'e whereby the clamping' -device may be released from the standard; whereupon the resilient means vautomatically "vvill slide the clamping device upwardly o'n-the standard and out of engagement with thecan or ansvand the cans are freed for easy and convenient lifting ofi -of theplatiorm element of the carrier. The standard is equipped with a handlewh'ereby the carrier when either 'loaded -or:unloaded.mavmconvenientlybecarriedabout. 4,

-It is --expressly {150138 understood thatithe invention relates to a carrier suitableufor vuseivvith a single .containeriand alsoto ;-a .carrier vsuitable for use with ta -plurality of containers simultaneously and is inot :limitedto use only with :.ice creameans but maybe used "with containers of different-shapes andiheights andcwith containers used for-other purposes so 'long as the containers'-may he supported :fromubeneath ,aby

the platform (element '1 of vthe "carrier andsem O CE acensvo 3 l application of which will be set forth in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of this invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a carrier embodying this invention and showing two cans engaged therewith;

Figure 2 is a side view of the platform element of the carrier; v

Figure 3 is a top view of the carrier element of the carrier;

Figure 4 is a sectional view including the upper portion of the lifting standard with the gripping device and lifting handle mounted thereon;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the lifting standard and gripping device and is taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and is taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a detail showing a modification of a gripping element of the gripping device in engagement with a cam and with certain associated parts shown in fragment, and

Figure 8 is a side view of the same.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

For purposes of illustration there is shown in the drawings a carrier adapted to carry two ice cream cans C and simultaneously. This carrierincludes a platform or base plate 10 to which is secured at its center the lower end of a lifting standard which is telescopically adjustable in height and extends upwardly therefrom higher than the cans C and C. This lifting standard includes a lower rod 1 which is secured to and extends upwardly from the base plate 16. On the upper end of rod 1 is slidably telescoped a tube ll having a spring latch finger Ila at its lower end biased toward and adapted to be re-' ceived in any one of a number of notches la provided in the rod 1 to receive the latch finger I la and hold the tube l l against sliding upwardly .or downwardly on the rod I. Thus the overall height of the lifting standard may be adjusted to accommodate cans or other containers of different heights. To the upper end of the tube H is secured a suitable carrying handle l2, as by being threaded thereon, as at i3, or otherwise secured thereto.

Portions of the base plate [0, on opposite sides of the lifting rod I, form laterally projecting container supporting ledges l4" upon which at least a portion of the bottom surface of a container or other article may rest; and the upper surface of each supporting ledge portion 14" is formed with an arcuate groove l4 shaped and positioned to receive therein a portion of the bottom flange l of an ice cream can, such as C and C, so that when these flanges of the cans are seated in these grooves the cans are supported on the platform in and are prevented from sliding off of the platform. Each of these grooves I4 is defined at its rear by an arcuate flange l4 extending upwardly from the platform and at its front by the ledge portion M" being thickened.

An ice cream can gripping device is slidably carried on the tube ll of the lifting standard, and includes a sleeve l6 slidably surrounding the tube II and having at its upper portion a pair 4 of arms I! diametrically extending therefrom and terminating in the cylinders 18 extending substantially parallel with the axis of the tube [6 so as to overlie the supporting ledge portions I4". Each of these cylinders supports and guides a spring pressed plunger l9 having on its lower end, exterior'of the cylinders i8, an article gripping element 2|] in the form of a disc 23 having its undersurface roughened to provide anti-slip teeth 21. The lower ends of the plungers 19, carrying the gripping members 20, are normally urged downwardly by compression springs 22- disposed within the confines of the cylinders 18 and between the hub 23 of the gripping element 20 and a plug 24 which is fitted into the top of the cylinder I8. The plug 24 has a central aperture through which the upper end of the plunger i9 extends and whereby the plunger is centered and guided in the cylinder; and a stop-nut 25 may be threaded on the upper end of plunger 19 to limit its downward movement.

The gripping device (i. e., parts I6, ll, 18 and 20) is urged to slide upwardly on the tube H of the lifting standard by means of a compression spring 26 within the sleeve i5 and encircling the tube H and having its lower end bearing against a stop abutment 2T fixed to the tube H, as by screws 28, and its upper end against an abutment sleeve 29 slidably encircling the tube H and bearing upwardly against a plate 30 of a latching mechanism. Thus, it will be seen that when one or two containers, container C and/or container C, are positioned on the ledge I l" the gripping device will overlie an opposite portion of the containers and may be pressed downward, against the tension of the spring 26, to bring the gripping elements 20 in contact with the upper surface of the containers to bind the containers between the ledge l4" and the overlying gripping member 20. The gripping device will be held in its depressed position by the latching mechanism now to be described.

The latching mechanism is mounted in an upper extension 39 of the sleeve it which has two opposite side wall portions cut away, as at 3 8, to house and accommodate friction latch plates 30 and 35. The latch plate 30 rests upon the bottom of the passage 38 and has one end 3| received in a slot formed by an overlying bridge portion 32 integral with the sleeve 16. This end 3| of the plate 30 is termed a. heel portion as the plate fulcrums on this end of the plate in the operation of the latch; the plate 30 having an aperture therein through which the tube Ii extends. Opposite the heel portion 3! of the plate 30, is an upwardly extending lip 33 upon which rests a heel portion 34 of a tiltable friction clamping plate 35 overlying the plate 30. The plate 35 has a central aperture 36 through which the tube il extends and the plate 35 is provided with a finger piece 31 on its end portion opposite its heel portion 34 and extending laterally beyond the extension 39. The aperture in the plate 35 is larger than the aperture in the plate 30 and permits a greater tilting movement of the plate 35 to move the edges of the aperture 36 into clamping engagement with the surface of the tube II, when pressure is placed upon the plate 30 by the spring 26-through its abutment tube 29. To hold the plates 30 and 35 in position, a flanged plug 40, apertured'to have the tube ll slidably pass therethrough, closes the top of extension 39 of the sleeve 16 and may be held in place by any suitable means, such as by screws, threads or the like (not shown). It

Jar

will be noted thatthis-lafichirig device is an the nature :ef -a -'-transom latch, sometimes called a friction plate fcatch, biased intoclampln'g engagement with' tube H by the lip "33 0f plate 530 and therspring-z'fii -I-t-will "also bemoted that to release *the gripping "device *from-the articles "being carried -it is enly necessary to lift'the finger -'piece*3 'l of' latch {plate 35, -wh ic h tilts the latter -out of clamping engagement-with--the tube ll whereuponthe springIE-will -return-the gripping device-tofits-"uppermost position out-of -gripping engagement with the articles being carried.

A suitable fing'er piece 41 is rigidly attached to the gripping device-sleeve J It 'and-wherebythe gripping ;device-iriay easily and conveniently 'be moved-manually down-bathe tube 2 H of the' -li'ft- Zing standard:against-the *tension of the "spring *Zfiandinto g-rippingengagementwith the can {or cans that are -on the carrier.

a n'iodification, *two diverging strap arms "SW-having down turned ends 5! maybe formed -integrally with or fastenedto each -of the grip- ,pi .;elements *2 0 to extend horizontally there- "fromflthe arms 50 being of suchlengt-h that when,'the gripping 'device-is slid *down the lifting of the-can. Thus, the arms-50 serve as means auxiliaryto the gripping elements 2-0 to hold zthe canspnthe carrier against, inadvertent and accidental,displacement therefrom even in the v t; ha he rip in nga e i ha f ping element has not been: brought intorfirm enough engagement witha ganto prevent the can from slipping-thereunder.

When the cans have-beenreleased from the g'carrier thetgrippingidevicethas been moved automatically .by the .action of nspring 2.6 .ainto its uppermost positioni.on-the; standard and consequently the carrier, when unloaded, normally will be in condition to be loaded with cans. To load the carrier the bottom flanges of the cans are seated in the grooves I4 of the platform l0 so that the cans will stand close to the lifting standard, and the height of the standard adjusted to the proper height for the cans. The operator then, by pushing down on the finger piece M of the gripping device pushes the gripping device down on the lifting standard against the tension of the spring 26 until the gripping elements 20 have been pushed into tight gripping engagement with the tops of the cans. The operator then removes his hand from the finger piece 4| and the gripping device will remain in tight gripping engagement with the can, being automatically held against upward movement on the lifting standard by the transom latch which includes the plates 30 and 35. The attempt by spring 26 to force the gripping device to move upwardly on the lifting standard wedges the edge of the plate where the tube H of the standard passes therethrough so tightly against the tube II as to prevent upward movement of the plate 35 on the tube II and consequently prevents movement of the gripping device upwardly on the tube H. The user may then conveniently lift and carry the cans from place to place by means of the handle l2 which has been provided for the purpose. Incidentally, the nut part 60 of the handle and whereby it is secured to the topof the -tube lil :may ,serve as :a stop abutment for the gripping :device -iwhen-zmoved upwardly on -the" tube 1 l by the spring. When it is desired tounload thegcarrier the operator need merely place :his finger underneath the finger portion 31- of the locking plate 3 5 and ;tilt theiplatedS toward horizontal-position, sByethis movement of locking plate 35 v the :plate becomes "comprisingmelatively few parts ,and is mostieasy and convenient to operate and to use. .Alsozas stated hereinbefore our invention is ..not limited tea-carrier suited *for use only with two :cans or other-containers; but the carrier maybe fashioned'lto'accommodate asingle can or container or toaaccommodatemore than two cans ori constandard secured to extend upwardly 1 from the -platform and having-a handleat its upperlend whereby the car riermay be transported misus- -pended position, a container gripping device slidably mounted on the standard and adapted =to "be manually --mov'ed toward the platform :into

contact with the top of a container resting on the platform, of a compression spring surrounding the standard and positioned to bias said gripping device to slide toward the handle .on the standard, releasable locking means carried by the gripping device and formed and positioned to freely slide on the standard when said gripping device is moved toward the platform against the pressure of said spring, and normally biased by said spring to grip the standardand hold the gripping device against movement toward said handle when manually exerted depressing pressure is released from said gripping device, and a finger-piece associated with said locking means to release its gripping contact with the standard and allowing said spring to move said gripping device toward the handle on said standard.

2. In an article carrier of the type described, the combination with a rod-like standard having a handle at its upper end by which said carrier may be carried in suspended position and having a laterally outward projecting ledge means at its low end upon which at least a portion of the bottom of an article may be supported; of an article gripping device including a sleeve slidably mounted upon the upper portion of said standard below said handle, a pair of superposed tiltably related plates transversely disposed and mounted in a recess in said sleeve and having apertures therein through which said standard slidably assists extends, a compression spring within said sleeve and surrounding said standard, the lower end of said spring engaging a fixed abutment on said standard and its upper end bearing against the lowermost of said plates, gripping elements projecting laterallyirom said sleeve and adapted to overlie said ledge means and to be manually depressed against the action of said spring into gripping contact with the top of one or more articles supported on said ledge means and, when the depressing pressure is relieved, the tension of said spring causes said plates to tilt bringing the edges of their apertures in binding contact with said standard and holding the gripping device in its adjusted gripping position, and a fingerengageable tripping member operatively connect- 7 ed with said plates for reversely tilting said plates 7 from their binding position, whereby said spring returns said gripping device to its normal nondepressed position.

3. In an article carrier of the type described, in combination with a rod-like; standard having a handle fast to its upper end by which the carrier may be transported in suspended position and having a laterally outward projecting ledge means at its other end upon which at least a portion of the bottom of one or more articles may be supported; of an article gripping head sliolably mounted on the upper portion of said standard below said handle for a limited reciprocating movement, between said handle and said article to be supported, and having resiliently yieldable gripping elements mounted thereon and adapted to overlie said ledge means and to be brought into gripping contact with the top or one or more articles supported on said ledge means, resilient means normall biasing said gripping headto a position toward the handle on' the standard, and a latching mechanism comprising a pair of superposed plates loosely disposed in arecessed portion of said gripping head and each having an opening therein through which said standard extends, one of said plates being tiltably mounted on said gripping head and receiving the thrust from said biasing means, when under tension, and the other wherein the gripping device comprises a sleeve surrounding said standard and having oppositely extending lateral arms and each arm having one of said resiliently-viewable article gripping elements mounted thereon and extending in a downwardly direction therefrom; and wherein said resilient biasing means is a" compression spring within said sleeve and surrounding said standard, the lower end of said spring engaging a fixed abutment on said standard and its upper end bearing against one of said friction plates 5. An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the standard is adjustably extensible and retractable to adapt the carrier to articles of different sizes.

ROBERT E. LEE.

CLETUS A. BENDEN.

References Cited in the, file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date 193,479 Burgin July 24, 1877 782,412 Neudorf "Feb. 14, 1905 1,111,893 Gadley' Sept. 29, 1914 1,205,635 Hummel Nov. 21, 1916 2,582,122 Haskett i Jan. 8, 1952 E GN PA N S.

Number :Country Date;

5,760 Sweden 1 Jan. '19,v 1894 765,145 France Mar. 19,1934

792 135 France Mar. 31-, 1947 

